What Love Looks Like & GraceFull Tuesday Link-Up

There is one thing I am learning in this new season of life. This is the season of stepping into leading ministries, this season of working full time with people with great needs. This one thing I am learning, is what it honestly means that we are commanded to love. What the practicality of loving in the midst of great needs meet. This, I find, is important to learn — because this is what Jesus modeled for us when He walked the Earth.

These days, I meet many needs, demands, and requests. Most require me to push the limits that I have already stretched a bit too far. Please, I am not saying that as a way of getting pity. It’s just the honest truth of this season. I push myself harder than I should. I stretch thin between the many demands and needs of people, let alone my own. And sometimes I wonder, if I can love these people around me like I should love them.

“For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11)

But we are commanded to love one another.

What Love Looks Like

These days I need to ask myself the question, what does love look like? Because I tend to define love by feeling. Sometimes I define love by my own resources — it is this much money, this much time, this much affection. But I shouldn’t be the one to define what love looks like.

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” (1 John 3:16-18 NLT)

What I am figuring out — slowly and bit by bit. Is that truly, love looks like so many things. On one day, it can be money given in the quiet to those in need. Another day, love can look like staying, like listening, like setting aside an hour or five just to be with someone. Maybe some days love looks like home-cooked meals or coffee cups on the table. And maybe some days love looks like speaking the hard truth, the one that challenges but walks right alongside the broken one.

There are still a thousand things for me to learn. I haven’t arrived, and I don’t know if I ever will. But I want to walking this road, step by step. I want to learn to love better. And I’m thankful for the mercy given that I get to still learn.

Friend, what does love look like to you today? How are you loving your brothers and sisters today?

I often felt the same way as you when I was a school teacher. I wondered if I could love my students the way I was called to love them. Like you, I felt stretched thin and harried. Also, like you, I found that love could look like many things. I miss that ability to give out love every day very much (but not the schedule!)

Ronja, this post spoke deeply to me as I have been questioning these very same things since the beginning of the summer. I know God is challenging me to love better, love more deeply, love like Him. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Blessings!

I love how you describe the changing faces of love. It is so easy to think it should fit in a box, neatly squared away to be checked off. But God never works in a box. The spaces around and under and in between are some of the most beautiful places to find love!

Thank you! You are so right — God never works in a box! It can be so easy to get stuck in our own comfort zones, yet God promises so much to those who go where He calls us to. Thanks for visiting here today! God bless you

As a Clinical Counselor many days were stretched beyond my capacity to love those who were deemed by others as unlovable. That’s where God’s love, strength & enabling really comes alive!

We also need to be wise in looking after ourselves within this time too! 😉
Blessings,
Jennifer

Welcome!

I'm Ronja (pronounced RON-yah). I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, working on a Master's Degree in Speech & Language Therapy. I live and I am fueled by coffee & grace. I am here to encourage & share the light of grace with the beloved children of God.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.